Arm out car window OK – just don't toss

Q. When I was learning how to drive some 72 years ago, it was common to see the driver's window open and left arm out or resting on the open window sill, with cigarettes being flicked or tossed. Then that habit disappeared. Now, I see car after car, driver's windows open, arm often out with a lit cigarette. I also see people simply resting their arm on the open window and one hand on the steering wheel. Is that illegal or just unsafe?

– Don Thompson, Garden Grove

A. It’s OK to stick your arm out the window, Don, but it becomes a safety hazard when you totally extend it and run the risk of getting smacked by another vehicle, said California Highway Patrol Officer Denise Quesada.

However, it’s illegal to throw anything out your car window since that is littering. Beyond that, state law specifically prohibits lit cigarettes from being tossed out car windows, which could ignite a roadside fire or severely damage another vehicle, Quesada said.

Q. I want to bring to your attention a dangerous condition on the 91 freeway. The new entrances to the westbound 91 at Weir Canyon Road and Imperial Highway are dangerously short. They merge onto the freeway very quickly and with very little room. I think arrows should be painted to indicate that these lanes are ending. Judging by the skid marks there has already been several near-misses.

“It’s actually more than required at this location and arrows will not be added to the lanes,” Washington said. “The new entrances … were carefully designed and constructed per project plans.”

The project was part of a larger plan that included the addition of new freeway lanes along the 91 freeway, the reconstruction of three bridges and the realignment of 15 ramps.

Fun fact: More than 6,200 people boarded the Angels Express bus for roundtrips during its first year of service this past baseball season, according to the Anaheim Transportation Network. The free shuttle operated during Friday, Saturday and Sunday home games, carrying people between Angel Stadium, Downtown Disney, the Convention Center, GardenWalk mall and the Anaheim train station. Ducks Express is offering similar rides during hockey season, check rideart.org.

On the Road takes transportation questions from readers of our North Orange County weekly newspapers. You can email questions to ontheroad@ocregister.com. Only the questions placed into the column are answered.